Possible Applications of Cold Stimulus in Obesity and Diabetes

White and brown adipocytes are component of a specialized organ known as the adipose organ, in both mice and humans. They exhibit plasticity, converting reversibly into each other under certain physiological conditions. During chronic cold exposure, white adipocytes can convert into brown adipocytes, thereby increasing the physiologic role of brown adipocytes: the thermogenesis, or the generation of heat. Conversely, under conditions of chronic positive energy balance (or warm temperatures), brown adipocytes can convert into white adipocytes to enhance the primary role of white adipocytes: the energy storage. This process, called ‘browning’ of the adipose organ, has shown positive health effects and is primarily induced by cold exposure. Chronic cold exposure has been observed to reduce obesity and mitigate type 2 diabetes in rodent models. In this context, cryotherapy, which involves exposure to cold temperatures, could be a potential method to induce browning of the human adipose organ.